15-year-old leads deputies on chase in stolen car, hits electrical pole and home

CLAY COUNTY, Mo. (KCTV) - A 15-year-old led Clay County deputies on a chaotic car chase that stretched from Oceans of Fun to Downtown Liberty, causing significant damage to a home and utility pole.

Ocean’s of Fun

In a Facebook post, the Clay County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Department reported that the incident started around 3:13 a.m. on Sunday.

Deputies attempted to stop a white Dodge Challenger just outside Ocean’s of Fun at NE Great Midwest Drive and NE Parvin Road. The car was speeding and had no working taillights, but deputies decided not to pursue the car after it failed to stop and lost control near 210 Highway.

210 Highway

A few minutes later, the Dodge almost hit another deputy’s patrol car as he performed an unrelated traffic stop near 210 Highway and NE Chouteau.

Due to the Dodge’s continued reckless driving, the deputies again chose not to pursue it.

Liberty Square

About 15 minutes later, the Dodge was seen again by deputies driving more than 60mph through red lights near Liberty Square in Liberty, Mo.

At that time, deputies determined that the Dodge was presenting a sustained danger to public safety and decided to pursue it.

Route 291

The Dodge was located again on southbound 291 Highway at Birmingham Road. Deputies tried to stop the car again, but it fled and crashed near 291 Highway and South Main Street, a short distance away.

The Dodge “sheared an electrical [pole,] knocking down live wires that started a small fire,” the Clay County Sheriff’s Office reported. “It also hit an occupied parked car, a gas line, a mailbox, a treehouse, and finally stopped after striking a house in the 10 block of S. Village Drive.”

After hitting the home and coming to a stop, the driver got out of the Dodge and ran. A short time later, he was located near a creek in a wooded area by a K-9 team. He complied with officers and was not bitten by the dog.

Officers then learned that the driver was a 15-year-old who had recently stolen the Challenger from Gladstone. The teen was taken to a local hospital to be checked for injuries and was then taken to a juvenile detention center.

The person in the occupied car that was hit reportedly complained of arm pain and was checked by EMS staff at the scene, but no other injuries were reported.

It is estimated that the damage caused to the electrical pole and wires alone will cost $50,000 to repair. It is unclear how much damage was caused to the home, car or other objects struck by the Dodge.

It is unclear if charges have been filed against the teen at this time. His identity has not been released since he is a minor under the age of 18.

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